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'It's good for our souls;' Military flyover honors health care workers as they fight COVID-19

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Health care professionals wait outside Valleywise Health Medical Center before planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals wait outside Valleywise Health Medical Center before planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take photos, wave American flags and hold signs outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take photos, wave American flags and hold signs outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take a selfie outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as they wait for a flyover from the Arizona National Guard to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take a selfie outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as they wait for a flyover from the Arizona National Guard to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take photos, wave American flags and hold signs outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take photos, wave American flags and hold signs outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Health care professionals chant "Valleywise" outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as they wait for a flyover from the Arizona National Guard to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals chant "Valleywise" outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as they wait for a flyover from the Arizona National Guard to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take photos and video outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals take photos and video outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals look out windows from inside Valleywise Health Medical Center to see the flyover of planes from the Arizona National Guard in Phoenix on May 1, 2020. Patrick Breen/The Republic

Health care professionals look out windows from inside Valleywise Health Medical Center to see the flyover of planes from the Arizona National Guard in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.
Patrick Breen/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Aircraft from Luke Air Force Base fly over downtown Phoenix honoring health care workers, first responders, military and other essential personnel working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Nick Oza/The Republic

Locals came to South Mountain to watch Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing perform the flyover through downtown Phoenix to honor health care workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Nick Oza/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen over Tempe Town Lake on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen over Tempe Town Lake on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen over Papago Park in Tempe on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen over Papago Park in Tempe on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Eli Imadali/The Republic

People gather on the Mill Avenue Bridge to watch Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover on May 1, 2020, to honor people who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Eli Imadali/The Republic

People gather on the Mill Avenue Bridge to watch Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover on May 1, 2020, to honor people who are on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen from the Mill Avenue Bridge in Tempe, on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen from the Mill Avenue Bridge in Tempe, on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen from the Mill Avenue Bridge in Tempe, on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Eli Imadali/The Republic

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard perform a flyover as seen from the Mill Avenue Bridge in Tempe, on May 1, 2020, to honor people on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Eli Imadali/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

Jets with Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard fly over the Valley near Luke Air Force base on May 1, 2020, to honor people fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Hawthorne/The Republic

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Hospital worker Audrey DeAlva said it was emotional to watch the F-35A and F-16 fighter jets and the KC-135 air refueler fly overhead.

DeAlva called it “a huge honor” that the U.S. Air Force and Arizona National Guard thought it was important to pay homage to health care workers.

“To be recognized during not-so-glorious times is very impactful,” she said. “It ... motivates us to keep going.”

Luke Air Force Base and the Arizona National Guard performed a flyover across a vast swath of metro Phoenix to honor first responders, health care and other essential workers who are on the front line of the fight against COVID-19.

“We are honored to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the health care workers, first responders, military members and other essential personnel who are working on the front lines to combat the coronavirus,” Brig. Gen. Todd Canterbury, 56th Fighter Wing commander at Luke, said in a written statement.

Military jets flew over Philadelphia, New York City and Trenton, New Jersey, as a tribute to health care workers and other essential employees earlier this week and over Pensacola, Florida last week.

The health care workers cheered, waved flags and held up signs that said, “Stay Strong” and “Thank You,” as the jets approached the hospital from downtown Phoenix and cut across the clear sky.

Health care professionals take photos, wave American flags and hold signs outside Valleywise Health Medical Center as planes from the Arizona National Guard fly over the hospital to honor essential workers in Phoenix on May 1, 2020.(Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)

The flyover began shortly after 3 p.m. and lasted about 50 minutes.

Luke’s 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Wing and the Arizona National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing traveled over much of Maricopa County from as far west as Waddell and Goodyear through Phoenix and to Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa.

Surgical technician Dominque Camacho said working at the hospital during the novel coronavirus pandemic has kept staff busy and the uncertainty of treating patients who may have the virus has been stressful.

“It’s almost scary some days when you come in and you get those traumas and you don’t know if those patients are positive,” Camacho said. “I’ve got kids at home and I go home to them.”

The flyover made her feel appreciated, she said.

Colleague Dianna Flores said it meant a lot to be recognized for their work and it helped refuel them.

Purves, who has led the hospital for nearly seven years, said more than 4,500 employees at the network’s hospitals around the Valley are dedicated to fighting the pandemic.

“It means everything to us,” he said. “When things like this happen it really recharges our batteries, it’s good for our souls, and it’s an opportunity for us to celebrate what everybody brings to health care.”

He said while it was inspirational for staff it also was an opportunity to thank service members for their service every day.